YOBS shone lasers into pilots’ faces as they guided the first easyJet plane into Southend Airport.

Police have revealed they are investigating an attempt to dazzle the plane’s captain and first officer, as they prepared to land.

The aircraft was targeted on Sunday night, ahead of Monday’s maiden flight to Belfast.

It was empty apart from its flight crew, but an Aer Lingus Regional aircraft, which landed shortly afterwards and is also believed to have been targeted, was filled with passengers.

The reckless act was condemned by Captain Bob Jones, head of flight operations at the Civil Aviation Authority. He said: “To those individuals targeting aircraft with laser devices the message is clear – don’t.

“These things are not toys – they pose a serious risk to all flight safety.”

EasyJet plans to base three Airbus A319s at Southend to serve routes to nine destinations.

The first aircraft, which has performed all of the flights to Belfast, Barcelona and Amsterdam at the start of this week, initially flew from Stansted to Southend on Sunday.

It landed at about 8.20pm and is believed to have been targeted by someone with a laser standing on the edge of the airfield.

The laser was also trained on the Aer Lingus flight from Waterford, Ireland, which was due to land shortly after 8pm, but actually arrived after the easyJet plane. The incidents were reported to police by airport bosses.

Lasers can temporarily blind pilots and potentially cause serious crashes, particularly when aircraft are at their most vulnerable during landing or take-off. They can also cause permanent damage if directed straight into eyes.

Alastair Welch, the airport’s managing director, said: “It is a very serious incident and one which I hope the police would investigate fully.”

An Essex Police spokesman added: “Police were contacted shortly after 8.30pm on Sunday, following reports two aircraft had been targeted by lasers.”

An Aer Lingus spokesman said: “The Captain who operated the flight was aware of the laser light and followed normal occurrence reporting procedures.”

No-one from easyJet was available for comment.